Bag sewing machine



June 27, 1933. w. E. SHARKEY 1,915,765

BAG SEWING MACHINE I Filed Dec.;l'7, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 //V VE N 70H.

W/L L MM E. SHAHKEY lr/s ATTORNEY June 27, 1933. w. E. SHARKEY BAGSEWING MACHINE Filed Dec. 17, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 /1/5 ATTORNEY w. E.SHARKEY 1,915,765

BAG SEWING MACHINE Filed Dec. 17, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 27, 1933.

//VVE/VTO/?. by WILL/AM E. SHARKD.

mama June 21, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT ornca WILLIAM E. SHARKEY, OIMIDDLETOWN, OHTO, ABSIG NOB TO THE BLYIOHD m COMPANY, OF MIDDLETO'WN,OHIO, A COBPOBATIOK OF OHIO nae sswme mom Application filed December 17,1930. Serial No. 503,083.

This invention relates primarily to a bag sewing machine but isapplicable to various machines of a more or less similar character.

In the manufacture of certain types of paper bags a plurality of webs ofpaper are folded longitudinally, one about the other, into tubular formand the nested tubes are cut into bag lengths or bag sections. The bagsections are then delivered one at a time and in spaced relation to asewing machine which stitches both ends of each bag section tocompletely close the bag with the exception of a filling opening orvalve at one end thereof. Usually continuous binding tapes are foldedabout the respective ends of the bag section and sewed theretosimultaneously with the sewing of the ends of the bag section and afterthe bag has been sewed the binding tapes are severed between adjacentbags to separate the bags one from the other.

In the ordinary bag sewing machine the bag sections are delivered to thesewing heads by a conveyor having a series of lugs arranged to engagethe bag sections and deliver the same in proper spaced relation to thesewing heads. The bags are made in different widths and a conveyorhaving its lugs arranged to handle bag sections of one width will notdeliver bagsections of another width to the sewing heads in properspaced relation.

Therefore, when bag sections of a different width are to be sewed it isnecessary either to remove one conveyor and substitute another conveyortherefor or to rearrange the lugs on the conyeyor. Further, it isnecessary to so time the operation of the tape cutter that it willoperate in proper relation to the lugs on the conveyor.

One object of the present invention is to provide a machine of thischaracter with means for quickly and easily varying the spacing of thelugs on the conveyor.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a machine in whichthe changing of the spacing of the lugs on the conveyor will cause acorresponding change in the timing of the tape cutter. V

A further object of the invention is to provide such a machine with aconveyor having a series of normally inoperative lugs and means formoving selected lugs into rative positions during the movement oi theconveyor.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the mechanism is describedin detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a top plan view, partly brokenaway, of a sewing machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectiontaken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section takenon the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a front end elevation of a machine;Fig. 5 is a plan view of a section of the conveyor; Fig. 6 is a sideelevation of a section of the conveyor; Fig. 7 is a section taken on theline 77 of Fig. 5; 05 Fig. 8 is a detail view showing the actuatingdevice in operative en agement with one of the lugs; Fi 9 is a rontelevation, partly in section, 0 the tape cutter and its operatingdevice; Fig. 10 is a side elevation, part1 broken away, of the mechanismfor contro ling the operation of the cutter; and Fi 11 is a detail view,partly in section, 0 the variable speed mechanism.

In these drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention butit will be understood that this particular embodiment has been chosenfor the purposes of illustration only and that the invention may takevarious forms and may be utilized in connection with machines of variouskinds.

The invention is here illustrated in connection with the bag sewingmachine which comprises a supporting structure or main frame 10 whichincludes a table 11 over which the bag sections are moved to the sewingheads 12, there being in the present instance two of these sewing headslocated on opposite sides of the table near the forward end thereof andso arranged that theywill operate simultaneously on the respective endsof each bag section as it is moved past the same. The bag sections aredeposited on the table one at a time and are moved over the table to thesewing heads by means of a conveyor which, in the present construction,comprises endless members or chains 13 mounted on sprocket wheelscarried by shafts 14 and 15 at the rear and front ends, respectively, ofthe table. The upper or opera- 2 manages tive stretch of this conveyorrests upon the table and moves over the same, from ri ht to left, asshown in the drawin s. The ower stretch of the conveyor exten sdownwardly about one or more guides 16 which maintain a proper tensionthereon. As the bag sections pass the sewing heads they are held in firmengagement with the table by pressure bars 17.

A main driving shaft 18 extends transversely to the mam frame near itsforward end and is provided at one end with suitable means forconnecting the same with a source of power, such as a belt pulley 19.This driving shaft 18 is opcratively connected with the respectivesewing heads by gears, one of which is shown at 20, and it also hasgeared connection with a shaft 21 arranged beneath the same and havingthereon a worm 22 which meshes with a worm wheel 23 on a rearwardlyextendingshaft 2 1. The shaft 24 is connected at its rear end by beveledgears 25 with a shaft 26 which is thus driven at a constant speed fromthe source of power. The shaft 26 is connected by means of a sprocketchain 27 with a sleeve 28 which is rotatably mounted on a shaft 29 nearthe forward end of the machine, and this sleeve is connected by asprocket chain 30 with the forward conveyor shaft 15, which conveyorshaft thus constitutes the driving shaft for the conveyor. Continuousbinding tapes 31 are drawn from a suitable source of supply at therespective sides of the machine, about paste applying rollers 32 andthrough folding devices 33 whichfold the same about the ends of the bagsections just in advance of the sewing heads, so that the binding tapesare sewed to the bag as the latter passes through the sewing heads, andthe bags when delivered from the sewing heads are connected one to theother by the intermediate portions of these binding tapes.

The conveyor comprises a series of normally inoperative lugs, that is,these lugs normally occupy positions in which they Wlll not act upon bagsections or other articles resting on the table above the conveyorchaln, but each lug is individually movable into an operative positionin which it will engage such a bag section or other article and causethe same to move with the conveyor over the table. Associated with theconveyor are means for acting on selected lugs, as the con veyoradvances, to move the same into their operative positions, thisactuating means being so controlled that the lugs which are moved intooperative position will be spaced apart equal distances. Preferably thelugs are pivotally mounted on the endless member or chain 13 of theconveyor and, as here shown, links of that chain are provided withlaterally extending pintles 34: upon which the lugs are pivotallymounted. In the pres ent instance each link of the chain is providedwith such a pintle and the lugs are of a length approximately equal tothe length of the respective links of the chain but the number of lugsemployed and their arrangement may vary in different conveyors. I11 thepresent conveyor the lugs, which are shown at 35, are pivotally mountednear their forward ends 11 on the respective pintles 34. so as to move8. out horizontal axes transverse to the conveyor chain, and when intheir normal or in operative positions they have their operative facessubstantially parallel with the adjacent portion of the chain butwhenmoved upwardly and forwardly about their axes these lugs will assumeupright or operative positions, as shown in Fig. 6. Each lug is providedwith a projection 36 which extends downwardly from the axis thereof whenthe lug is in its inoperative position and, in the present instance. theforward edges of these projections are at substantially right angles tothe operative faces of the lugs. The rear edges of the lugs are soshaped as to provide a substantial space between the projections ofadjacent lugs and in the arrangement illustrated the rear edges of theprojections are inclined from the lower ends thereof to points nearthe'rear end of the lug. The table 11 over which the convevor moves hasa channel 37 extending lengthwise thereof alongside of and adjacent tothe position occupied by the operative stretch of the conveyor chain andthe projections 36 of the several lugs which are in their inoperativepositions travel in this channel. The projection for each lug has on itsouter side a groove 38 which extends lengthwise of the conveyor when thelug is in its inoperative position. A guide bar or flange 39 carried bythe table 11 overhangs a portion of the channel 37 and extends into thegrooves 38 in the projections of those lugs which are in theirinoperative positions and serves to hold the lugs in their inoperativepositions as they move along the table. As here shown, the channel 37and the guide bar orbillange 39 extend for the full length of the ta e.

. The actuating means for moving the lugs 1nto operative position maytake various forms but preferably it comprises a part which may moveinto the path of the projection of that lug which is to be actuated andwhich will so retard the movement of the projection that the continuedtravel of the conveyor will rock the lug about its axis and into anupright position. This actuating device is shown as arranged adjacent tothe rear ends of the channel 37 and guide bar or flange 39 so that asthe lug is moved into its upright position the forward edge of theprojection, which then assumes a horizontal position, will be broughtinto engagement with and will ride upon the upper surface of-the flange39 and will thus firmly hold the lug in its 0 rative position. In thepresent machine e actuating device or tripping member is shown in theform of a finger 40,it being understood that there is one of theseactuating devices for each endless member of the conveyor. This fin eris rotatably mounted at the rear end 0 the table below the channel 37and is of such a length that, when rotated, the end thereof wil passacross the end of the channel in the path of the projections on thelugs. The rotation of the finger is so timed that it will enter thespace between two projections and will remain in that space long enoughto permit the projection to engage the same and to betrip ed over intoits operative osition, after which the finger is withdrawn rom the pathof the lugs b its continued rotation. It will be obvious t at by varyinthe speed at which the finger or actuating evice is rotated, withrelation to the movement of the conveyor, the frequency with which itengages .and actuates one of the lugs may be varied, thus varying thedistance between adjaccnt operative lugs. The actuating finger 40 isrigidly secured to a short shaft 41 having geared connection at itsforward end with a transverse shaft 42 and this transverse shaft isconnected by a sprocket chain 43 with a shaft 44 arranged adjacent toand adapted to be'driven from the constantly operated shaft 26. In orderthat the speed at which the lug actuating device is operated may bevaried with relation to the speed of operation of the conveyor the shaft44 is connected with the shaft 26 through variable speed mechanism. Thismechanism may take any suitable form but, in the present construction,the shaft'44 has mounted thereon a series of gears 45, of differentdiameters, and the shaft 26 is provided with a long gear 46 of uniformdiameter. An intermediate pinion 47 is mounted on a swinging support 48,which is movable lengthwiseof-and about the axis of the elongated gear46 so that it can be adjusted to mesh simultaneously with the elongatedgear 46 and with any one of the gears 45, thereby enabling the speed atwhich the actuating device is driven to be varied and to thereby causethe lugs on the conveyor to be moved into operative position atdifferent intervals along the length of the conveyor.

As has been stated, the bags as they leave the sewing heads areconnected one to the other by the binding tape and this tape-must besevered in order to separate the bags. To accomplish this a cutter ismounted a short distance beyond each sewing head and is operated intimed relation to the movement of.

the conveyor to sever the tape between adj acent bags. The cutter andits operating mechanism here shown constitute the subject matter of aseparate application for patent and therefore need be. described only tosuch an four extent which will enable the combination thereof fortheconve or mechanism to be understood. Briefly t e cutter comprises acutter bar 49 arranged beneath the line of travel of the binding tape.The cutting element com rises a rotatable disk 50 havlng a series oflades 51, in the present instance and provided with peripheral notches52 which constitute in effect ratchet teeth and which are adapted to beengaged by a pawl 53 carried by a pawl arm 54 pivotally mount-. ed atthe azgis of the disk 50 and having rigidlv secured thereto a gear 55.Meshing with the gear 55 is a toothed rack 56 which serves to impartsufiicient movement to the pawl 53 ,to cause the cutter disk to movethrough a quarter rotation. As here shown, the lower end of the rack 56is connected with a piston rod 57 which projects into a cylinder 58where it is secured to a piston 59. A spring tive movement to the pistonand the rack.

The pipe 61 leads to a valve casing 62 which is connected by a pipe 63with the source of supply for air under pressure. The connection betweenthe valve casing and the air supply is controlled by a valve 64 the stem65 of which projects beneath the Valve casing into the path of anoperating arm 66 which is pivotally mounted on a stud 67 and has at itsother end a roller 68 arranged to be engaged by a cam projection 69 on adisk,70, which disk is rigidly secured to the shaft 29. Hence upon eachcomplete rotation of the shaft and disk the arm 66 will be caused toopen the valve and admit air through the pipe 61 to the cylinder andthereby impart operative movement to the cutter. The valve casing alsohas an exhaust port 71 which is controlled by a valve 72, the stem 73 ofwhich projects laterally beyond the valve casing and into the path of anarm 74 also pivotally mounted on the stud 67 and arranged to be engagedby the cam projection 69 after the latter has passed beyond theactuating arm 66, thus opening the exhaust valve and relieving thepressure to permit the rack 56 to return to its normal position. Asprocket wheel 75 is rigidly secured to-the shaft 29 and is connected bya sprocket chain 76 with a sprocket wheel 77 secured to the shaft 44,which shaft is also operativel connected with the lug actuating device.onsequently the cutter operating mechanism will be driven in unison withthe lug actuating device and will be controlled by the variable speedmechanism which controls the speed of operation of the lug actuatingdevice. Thus the lug actuating device and the cutter are at all timesoperated in definitely timed relation but the speed of operation ofthese parts may be varied with relation to the speed of the conveyor soas to permit the s acing leetween the conveyor lugs to be varied and tocause the operation of the cutter to be correspondingly varied;

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wishit to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the detailsthereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in theart.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a mechanism of the character described, a conveyor comprising anendless member and a series of lugs pivotally mounted on said endlessmember on axes transverse thereto and each having an operative facewhich normally extends lengthwise of said endless member, means forimparting continuous movement to said conveyor, and means operatedseparately from said conveyor and in timed relation thereto for movingselected lugs about their axes while said conveyor is in motion to causetheir operative faces to extend transversely to and beyond said endlessmember.

2. In a mechanism of the character described, a conveyor comprising anendless member, a series of lugs pivotally mounted on said endlessmember on axes transverse thereto and each having an operative facewhich normally extends lengthwise of said endless member, means foractuating said conveyor,

continuously operated means driven separately from said conveyor formoving selected lugs about their axes while said conveyor is in motionto cause their operative faces to extend transversely to and beyond saidendless member, and means for varying the speed of said continuouslyoperated means to vary the distance between selected lugs.

3. In a mechanism of the character described, a conveyor comprising anendless member and a series of lugs pivotally mounted on said endlessmember and each having an operative face which normally extendssubstantially parallelto said endless member and each having a partarranged at an angle to said operative face, an actuating device mountedon a fixed axis for rotatory movement transversely to the operativestretch of said conveyor into the path of said parts of said lugs tocause selected lugs to be moved about their axes to locate theiroperative faces in positions transverse to and above said endlessmember, and means for imparting continuous movement to said conveyorandfor operating said actuating device in timed relation thereto.

4. In a mechanism of the character described, a conveyor comprising anendless member and a series of lugs pivotally mounted on said endlessmember and each having an operative face which normally extendssubstantially parallel to said endless member and each having a partextending at an angle to said operative face, an actuating device havinga art rotatable in one direction mm and out o the path of said parts ofsaid lugs to cause a selected lu to move about its axis to a position inwhic its operative face will extend transversely to said endless membermeans for operating said conveyor, an

means for impartinga single rotatkm to said actuating device during apredetermined travel of said conveyor.

5. In a mechanism of the character described a conveyor comprising anendless member and a series of lugs pivotally mounted on said endlessmember, each having an operative face which normallyextendssubstantially parallel with said endless member and also having aprojection extending therefrom at an angle to said operative face, meansfor driving said conveyor, an actuating device movable across the pathof the projections on said lugs from one side thereof to the other, andmeans fdr operating said actuating device in timed relation to saidconveyor to move the same into the path of a projection on a selectedlug and cause said selected lug to move about its axis to position itsoperative face transversely to said endless member and to then movesaid'actuating device out of the path of the projection on thesucceeding lug.

6. In a mechanism of the character described, a conveyor comprising anendless member, and a series of lugs pivotally mounted on said endlessmember, each lug having an operative face which normally extendssubstantially parallel with said endless member and also having aprojection extending therefrom at an angle to said operative face, meansfor driving said conveyor, an actuating device mounted for rotationabout a fixed axis into and out of the path of the projections on saidlugs, and means operating in timed relation to said conveyor to movesaid actuating device into the path of said projections in advance ofthe projection on a selected lug to cause said selected lug to moveabout its axis to position its operative face transversely to saidendless member.

7. In a mechanism of the character described, a conveyor comprising anendless member and a series of lugs pivotally mounted on said endlessmember, each lug having an operative face which normally extendssubstantially parallel with said endless member and also having aprojection extending therefrom at an angle to said operative face, meansfor driving said conveyor, an actuating device mounted for rotationabout a fixed axis extending lengthwise of said endless member andhaving a part movable into and out of the path of the projections onsaid lugs, and means operated in timed relation to said conveyor to movesaid part of said ac- 8. In a mechanism of the character described, aconveyor comprising an endless member, a series of lugs pivotallymounted on said endless member and each having an operative face whichnormally extends'substantially parallel with said endless member andeach having a projection, means for driving said conveyor, an actuatingdevice rotatable through a complete circle which in tersects the path.of said projections, and means for rotating said actuating device intimed relation to said conveyor move the same into the path of theprojection of a selected lug, to retain the same in said path until saidlug has been moved about its axis to cause the operative face thereof toextend transversely to-and beyond the adjacent portion of said endlessmember and to then move said actuating device beyond the path of saidprojections.

9. n a mechanism of the character described, a conveyor comprising anendless member, a series of lugs pivotally mounted on said endlessmember and each having an operative face which normally extendssubstantially parallel with said endless mem: her and each having aprojection, means for driving said conveyor, an actuating devicerotatable through a complete circle which intersects the path of saidprojections, and means for rotating said actuating device in timedrelation to said conveyor to move the same into the path of theprojection of a selected lug, to retain the same in said path untilsaidlug has been moved about its axis to cause the operative facethereof to extend transversely to and beyond the adjacent portion ofsaid endless member and to then move said actuating device beyond thepath of said projections, and speed varying mechanism connected withsaid rotating means to vary the speed of rotation of said actuatingdevice.

10. In a mechanism of the character described, a conveyor comprising anendless member, a series of lugs pivotally mounted on said endlessmember and each having an operative face which normally extendssubstantially parallel with said endless member and each having aprojection, means for driving said conveyor, an actuating devicerotatable through a complete circle which in tersects the path of saidprojections, and

" means for rotating said actuating device in timed relation to saidconveyor to move the same into the path of the projection of a selectedlug, to retain the same in said path until said lug has been moved aboutits axis to cause the operative face thereof to extend transversely toand beyond the adjacent portion of said endless member and to then movesaid actuating device beyond the path of said projections, and a partextending lengthwise of the operative stretch of said endless member toengage the projection of said se lected lug and retain said lug in theposition to which it has been moved.

11. In a mechanism of the character described, a suppor ng structurehaving a 1011- gitudinal flange, a conveyor comprising an endless memberhaving its operative stretch arranged to move lengthwise of saidsupporting structure, and a plurality of lugs pivotally mounted on saidendless member on axes transverse thereto, each lug having an operaiiveface which normally extends lengthwise of said endless member and alsohaving a part arranged to travel in engagement with one side of saidflange when said lug is in its normal position and retain said lug insaid position, and means arranged in advance of and-adjacent to, saidflange to act on selected lugs and move said lugs about their axes andcause said operative faces to extend transversely to said endless memberand to cause said parts of said selected lugs to engage the other sideof said flange and retain said selected lugs in the positions to whichthey have been moved.

1 2. In a mechanism of the character descrlbed, a supporting structure,a conveyor comprising an endless member having its operative stretcharranged to move lengthwise of said supporting structure and 'aplurality of normally ino erative lugs pivotally mounted on said en lessmember on axes transverse thereto for movement into operative positions,each of said lugs having an operative face which extends lengthwise ofsaid endless member when said lug is in its inoperative position andalso having a part provided with a groove, means for driving saidendless member, and means to act on selected lugs to cause the same tobemoved about their axes to operative positions with said operativefaces transverse to said endless member, said supporting structurehaving a flange arranged to enter the grooves in said parts of thoselugs which arein inoperative positions and to engage the edges of saidparts of said selected lugs and retain the same in their operativepositions.

13. In a mechanism of the character described, a supporting structure, aconveyor the adjacent portion of said endless member and also having aprojection provided with a groove, means for driving said endlessmember, an actuating device movable into the path of the projections onselected lugs to cause said selected lugs to be moved about their axesto positions in which their operative faces extend transversely to andbeyond the adjacent portion of said endless member, and means foroperating said actuating device in timed relation to said endlessmember, said supporting structure having a flange arranged to enter thegrooves in the projections of those lugs which are in their normalpositions and to engage the projections of said selected lugs andsupport the latter in the positions to which they have been moved.

14. In a mechanism of the character described, a supporting structurehavin a channel extending lengthwise thereof an having a guide baroverhanging said channel, an endless member mounted for movement oversaid structure with its upper stretch adjacent to said channel, aplurality of lugs pivotally connected with said endless member ontransverse axes and arranged at one side thereof, each of said lugshaving an operative 'face which normally extends lengthwise of andsubstantially parallel with the adjacent portion of said endless memberand also having a projection arranged to travel in said channel andprovided with a groove to receive said guide bar, an actuating devicemounted in advance of said channel to act on the projection of aselected lug to cause the operative face of that lug to be moved to anupright position transverse to said endless member and to cause saidprojection to engage the upper surface of said guide bar, and means foroperating said endless member and said actuating device in timedrelation.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

HAM E. SRY.

